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Rising star from New Orleans will play Lake Tahoe set

Tim Parsons

Like somebody whose just tried crawfish etoufee for the first time, Mia Borders is coming back for seconds.

The New Orleans artist played at the Crystal Bay Casino in August during her first West Coast tour. She returns Saturday, May 28, to perform for the second time in the Red Room.

The 23 year old is undeniably talented. Her soulful voice grabs listeners’ attention from the first note. And she is a prolific songwriter who already has two albums and two EPs.



Borders was asked if she could write a song every week. Now in the fourth week, she posts the songs on her Facebook page. After 15 weeks fans can vote for the songs they want recorded on the next album.

“I was challenged and I accepted,” Borders said. “It was my brother, who is co-owner of my label (Blaxican Records), I guess he doesn’t think I work hard enough. It is a really good idea but it’s easy for him to say.”



Borders writes her songs at home.

“Most often I’m sitting on my couch watching television and then have to pause whatever watching because I have to get my guitar because I think of something,” she said. “I also write a lot when I’m cleaning my house. I start singing to myself and then I never end up finishing sweeping or whatever I was doing.”

While she used to write most of her songs with guitar, more lately come from the bass.

“That’s probably why I play rhythm guitar than lead,” she said. “I’ve always been much more rhythm driven.”

Borders is putting together a new band.

“My manager saw my new bassist playing with another band, and (Jesse Morrow) is a white boy with an afro with a pick in it,” she said. “She immediately sent me a message with his name and said you need to track this boy down, and sure enough I got him.

“I’m still working out drummers. It’s tough, especially in New Orleans because everybody wants to play out as much as possible with as many different people as possible.”

It will be a long day for Borders, who opens the Santa Cruz Blues Festival at 11 a.m. and performs at 12:30 a.m. in the Crown Room.


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